Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals), 1908, 1908a, 1893
[p. 243] Annual Assessment of City of Santa Monica, 1887-1907, 1908a
1893 $1,654,274.00
"Santa Monica's 2000 residents hosted daily crowds numbering many thousands more. Pacific Electric rail cars provided transportation to and from Los Angeles in about 25 mintues."
[p. 248] Chapter VI South Santa Monica and Ocean Park
The Outlook for May 6th, 1893, says: "It is quite lively on the South Side. Three new cottages have just been completed on the Santa Monica tract, to be given away with the lots distributed on the first of June. A number of summer residences are either completed or in course of construction. The land [p. 249] company is now putting down a plank walk from the tract across the sand hills to the sea, and it is on the programme to begin the construction of a bath house at an early date. Altogether we can safely say that the 'South Side' will be in the swim this summer."
The houses alluded to were built by Messrs. Kinney and Ryan on their Santa Monica tract and were given away with lots sold by distribution. Prices were $100.00 per lot, on easy terms.
In the spring of 1893 the Young Men's Christian Association of Southern California, after considerable discussion and looking about, decided to accept the proposition of Messrs. Kinney and Ryan to donate them a strip of land between the Santa Fe tract and ocean, 250 feet on ocean front and extending back to the Santa Fe right of way, about five acres included. June 21st, the Young Men's Christian Association Ocean Park Company was duly organized with a capital stock of $10,000, and the following incorporators: J.C. Salisbury, M.H. Merriman, F.H. Rindge, A.D. Childress, S.H. Wheeler, A.A. Adair, of Riverside; Charles E. Day, president; R.G. Lunt, vice-president; George W. Parsons, secretary; F.M. Potter, treasurer; O.T. Johnson, J.H. Brawly, W.F. Bosbyshell, C.C. Reynolds, Lyman Stewart, and other prominent men of Southern California. In announcing its decision, the incorporators give as reasons for their selection: "The land is about three-fourths of a mile south of Arcadia Hotel, is close to the railroad station of the great Santa Fe route, which reaches nearly every hamlet and village in Southern California. It has a fine, clean, sandy beach, of gentle slope, making a safe and delightful place for bathing. Near this land is a fine 70 by 1000 feet grove, with pavilion erected therein, making a pleasant place for a picnic and the only accessible place where a grove and the beach are so close together. A fine wharf will be constructed close to this land in the near future, when the coast steamers will connect with the Santa Fe route for all points on their line. It will be one of the most popular lines between Los Angeles and Catalina Island." Which shows that the Y.M.C.A. people were no better at prophesying future results than the sanguine "wharf boomers" of Santa Monica.
In consideration of the donations by Messrs. Kinney and Ryan and Messrs. Vawter, the "Ocean Park Company," named from the eucalyptus grove of the Vawters, was to build a commodious bath house and an auditorium, which it was expected would be the scene of many religious conventions and assemblies. The bath house was built during the summer and many new cottages were put up. In July an auction sale of lots took place, 80 lots, 25 by 100 feet , being sold at about $45.00 apiece.
During this summer St. David's Mission, Episcopalian, held services in [p. 250] the school house and the South Santa Monica Baptist Mission was organized by Rev. H.S. Baker.
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[p. 267] Chapter VII Public Institutions
Schools
. . . [p. 267] In 1893, two more rooms were added to the Sixth street building . . .
" . . .
[p. 269] School Trustees of Santa Monica
1892-93: John C. Morgan, R.R. Tanner, Dr. J.J. Place (Clerk).
1893-94: Dr. J.J. Place, R.R. Tanner, Nathan Bundy (Clerk).
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[p. 270] Supervising Principals of Santa Monica Schools:
1893-00: N.F. Smith.
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[p. 275] Public Library
. . . March 1st, 1893, the library was made free to the public, the occasion being celebrated by an evening gathering, speeches etc. The library now had 1,800 volumes on its shelves.
" . . . [p. 279] During that time [1889-1899] the fire department had to cope with many exciting blazes. One of the most serious was the Santa Monica Hotel which was burned in 1889. Another, which many will remember, was the burning of the large livery stable belonging to William Flores when several horses and a large amount of hay was lost. The destruction of the old Neptune Gardens in 1893, was a picturesque fire . . .
[p. 282] Newspapers
. . . and during 1893 he [L.T. Fisher] published very full and exultant accounts of the building and business of the long wharf and Port Los Angeles, making predictions of future commercial importance for Santa Monica, which time has not yet verified.
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[p. 283] PostOffice
. . . In 1893 Mr. Vawter resigned [as Post Master] to be succeeded by J.C. Steele. During his [J.C. Steele's] administration the office was located in the Cates block.
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[p. 298] Chapter VIII Churches and Societies: Baptist Church
During 1893-4, Rev. H.S. Baker, pastor of Palms church, preached regularly in the chapel ["The Baptist Mission"], assisted by Mr. Charles Baird as singer.
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[p. 323. 1893, 1905] Chapter X. The City of Ocean Park
In 1893 John Metcalf purchased 55 acres of marsh, lying to the east of the tract on which Venice was located for $3,000. During the summer of 1905 this land was platted and put on the market as the Venice Gateway tract.
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[p. 328] Chapter XI Venice of America and Its Founder
. . . In 1893, [Abbot Kinney] issued, The Conquest of Death, dealing with a sociological subject, and Tasks by Twilight, which sets forth some original theories as to the training of the young. As the author is the parent of five sons, he had practical data to deal with. He devoted much study to the workings of the Australian ballot system and published a pamphlet on this subject and earnestly advocated its adoption in this country. He has also published a strong argument on the tariff question; made a study of climatology, particularly with reference to Santa Monica, and written many valuable lectures and monographs upon various topics. In all of his writing his use of English is direct and forcible and his course of reasoning clear and logical.
[p. 329] He has served as president of the Southern California Academy of Science and of the Southern California Forest and Water Association; and as vice president of the American Forestry Association of California.